Golden threadfin bream (Nemipterus virgatus)

Scientific name: Nemipterus virgatus Houttuyn, 1782

The Golden threadfin bream (Nemipterus virgatus) is a marine fish of the family Nemipteridae. Native range: Western Pacific, southern Japan to northwestern Australia and the Arafura Sea.

Biology

Inhabits muddy or sandy bottoms. Young fish generally occur in shallower water between 18 and 33 m. Feeds on crustaceans, fish and cephalopods. One of the most important commercial fish in the East China Sea and northern South China Sea. May be made into fish balls.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Nemipterus virgatus
Family: Nemipteridae (Threadfin breams, Whiptail breams)
Order: Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 35.0
Common length: 23.0
Depth range: 220 m (722 ft)
Environment: Marine; demersal; non-migratory; depth range ? - 220 m, usually 18 - 33 m
Climate: Tropical
Distribution: Western Pacific: southern Japan to northwestern Australia and the Arafura Sea.
Conservation status (IUCN): Vulnerable (VU) (A2bd)
Threat to humans: Harmless
Uses: Fisheries: commercial
Resilience: High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (K=0.3-0.45; Fec=2,000)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Last updated 27 September 2026